The Best Presidential Candidate for Americans’ Money in Every State

When it comes to casting a vote for the next president of the U.S., one of the main concerns is how he, or she, will help or hurt you financially. GOBankingRates asked people in every state this question: “Which presidential candidate would be best for you financially if elected?”

Nearly half (49%) of respondents ages 18 to 24 said Bernie Sanders would best suit their financial future, while 18 percent chose Donald Trump and 11 percent chose Hillary Clinton. Sanders won over the 25- to 34-year-olds with 36 percent of the vote — Trump received 26 percent and Clinton 18 percent. Trump, however beat all candidates in all age groups 35 and up, and Clinton beat Sanders for second place among respondents age 45 and older.

When it came to individual states, not all of the responses reflected states’ traditional voting patterns. Many supposedly red states chose Democratic candidates Sanders or Clinton, and some historically blue states chose Trump. Click through to see which candidate is favored in each state.

Alabama

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

It’s no surprise that a Republican won Alabama in the GOBankingRates poll since the residents of Alabama have voted Republican in the last seven presidential races, and both of the state’s current senators are Republican.

2/51

Alaska

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin endorsed Trump in January 2016. The endorsement might help Trump’s numbers in more right-leaning states than just Alaska.

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3/51

Arizona

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Apparently, Arizonians have forgotten — or forgiven — that Trump slammed Arizona Sen. John McCain back in July 2015, saying, “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” reported The Washington Post. Despite some divisive statements, Trump is drawing crowds by the thousands these days, including in Arizona, according to AZCentral.com.

4/51

Arkansas

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Trump continues his sweep of states that start with A. And no wonder. Arkansas has a Republican governor, Republican state senators and four Republican congressmen.

5/51

California

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

With a Democratic governor, Jerry Brown, and California residents voting for the Democratic presidential candidate in the past six elections, it looks like the days of Republican governors Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger are over. Hasta la vista, baby. Interestingly, though, Hillary Clinton and Trump were tied for second place.

6/51

Colorado

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Another win for the senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders. This one is a little surprising because Colorado voted Republican in four of the last seven presidential elections and has a pretty even split of Democrats and Republicans in its legislature. The state does have a Democratic governor, however.

7/51

Connecticut

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

It’s a clean sweep of the “C” states for Sanders. Not too surprising since Connecticut is in the New England neighborhood of the Vermont senator. Connecticut also voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in six of the last seven elections.

8/51

District of Columbia

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Even though Sanders isn’t shy about attacking Wall Street and politicians in the nation’s capital, he takes the District in this poll.

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9/51

Delaware

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Delaware has a Democratic governor, a Democratic congressmen and senators, and has voted Democratic in six of the last seven presidential elections. Still, Delaware voters believe Trump could benefit them financially better than Clinton or Sanders.

10/51

Florida

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Florida is the home state of Jeb Bush; he was governor for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. But apparently, voters think that Trump can benefit them and the country financially if elected president.

11/51

Georgia

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

The Peach State is red. Very red. It has a Republican governor and more than twice as many Republican congressmen than Democratic representatives. So it’s not surprising that The Donald took the state in this poll. What is surprising is that Clinton and Sanders came in second and third, respectively.

12/51

Hawaii

Favorite Candidate: Ben Carson, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

It seems the Aloha State wants to spread the aloha around as much as possible. That’s interesting because the state runs blue, with a Democratic governor and currently only Democrat representatives and senators.

13/51

Idaho

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Democratic candidate Sanders edged out Republican Trump in Idaho, a state that voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections straight. The state also has a Republican governor, two Republican senators and two Republican congressmen.

14/51

Illinois

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Trump takes Illinois, where voters have gone for the Democratic candidate for president in the last six elections, have more Democrats in Congress than Republicans but have a Republican governor.

Indiana

Another win for The Donald, with Sanders coming in second and Clinton landing in the third spot. The state residents voted Republican in six of the last seven presidential elections.

16/51

Iowa

Favorite Candidate: Hillary Clinton

Former Secretary of State Clinton takes the Hawkeye State. Not too shocking since the state’s voters checked the Democratic box in six of the last seven presidential elections, meaning they voted for Clinton’s husband Bill at least once.

Kansas

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Democrat Sanders took this red state over second-place finisher Trump in this poll. Kansas voters have voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections, so Sanders must have a strong financial message here.

18/51

Kentucky

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

In a state with a Republican governor and a majority of Republican congressmen, Democrat Sanders should feel pretty good about matching Republican Trump in this poll.

19/51

Louisiana

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Another close one between Trump and Sanders, who were both far ahead of the rest of the field for Louisiana in the poll. Interestingly, Louisiana has a Democratic governor but two Republican senators and more Republican congressmen than Democrats.

20/51

Maine

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

The northernmost state in the contiguous U.S. went for their local New England candidate in this poll, with Clinton and Trump sharing second place.

21/51

Maryland

Favorite Candidate: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

Maryland voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in the last six elections, so despite having a Republican governor, it’s not too shocking that two Democrats tied for first in this poll. Clinton and Sanders edged out Trump, who took third.

22/51

Massachusetts

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Although it has an entirely Democratic roster of senators and congressmen, Massachusetts has a Republican governor. In this poll, Sanders and Clinton take first and second, with Trump coming in third.

23/51

Michigan

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Michigan has a Republican governor and more Republican representatives in Congress than Democrats. It has also voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections. Here, Democrat Sanders beat out Trump, with Clinton taking third.

24/51

Minnesota

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

The Land of 1,000 Lakes believes that the billionaire can best look out for their wallets. Despite voting Democratic in the last seven presidential races, Minnesotans seem to see Trump as their financial guru.

25/51

Mississippi

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Mississippi is as red as they come, with a Republican governor, Republican senators and mostly Republican congressmen, as well as a record of voting Republican in presidential elections: seven out of the last seven. No wonder Trump took the state, with Ben Carson coming in second.

26/51

Missouri

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Missouri is a slightly mixed bag. It has a Democratic governor, but more Republican representatives in Congress than Democrats. It’s also voted Republican in five of the past seven presidential elections, so it makes sense that Republican Trump edged out Democrat Sanders.

27/51

Montana

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

With one Republican and one Democratic senator, perhaps it’s not surprising that Sanders narrowly beat out Trump in GOBankingRates’ poll. Montana voted Republican in the last six out of seven presidential races, however, so he likely has some more campaigning to do there.

28/51

Nebraska

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

It was a tight race in this state among the top four candidates in the poll, with Sanders, Trump, Carson and Clinton taking first through fourth, respectively. That’s a little surprising because Nebraska has a Republican governor and voted Republican in the last seven presidential races.

29/51

Nevada

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Nevadans like their chances with Trump in the White House when it comes to their financial future. Clinton came in a distant second, with Sanders cashing out with the bronze.

30/51

New Hampshire

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Being from neighboring state Vermont didn’t help Sanders at all in New Hampshire. New Hampshire voters like Trump, which is interesting because the state’s voters leaned Democratic in the last five out of seven presidential elections.

New Jersey

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

New Jersey governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie has some strong competition with Trump winning the state in this poll. Sanders took second, Clinton came in third, and Republican candidate Marco Rubio came in fourth.

32/51

New Mexico

Favorite Candidate: Hillary Clinton

In a state that voted Democratic in the last five out of seven presidential elections but has a Republican governor, Clinton is seen as the most financially beneficial. But Trump did manage a respectable second place.

33/51

New York

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Sanders should feel good about this win because Clinton is a former New York senator. She only managed to nab third place in this poll, with The Donald — a New York native — taking second.

North Carolina

Another state goes to the billionaire candidate, with Sanders taking second and Clinton landing in the third spot. North Carolina voted Republican in six of the last seven presidential elections.

35/51

North Dakota

Favorite Candidate: Marco Rubio

Nope, that’s not a typo up there; someone other than Trump, Sanders or Clinton took a state. It was close in this poll, but Rubio took North Dakota, a state that has voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections.

36/51

Ohio

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Despite having a Republican governor, Ohio residents voted for a Democratic candidate in four of the last seven presidential races. Perhaps the state is changing, but Sanders wasn’t far behind in this poll.

37/51

Oklahoma

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

With a Republican governor, two Republican senators and five Republican congressmen, it’s a bit surprising that Oklahoma voters were split between Trump and Sanders when it came to who is best for their finances.

38/51

Oregon

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

With a Democratic governor, and having voted Democratic in the last seven presidential elections, it’s less surprising that Oregon voters chose Sanders as their best shot at financial stability.

39/51

Pennsylvania

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Pennsylvania has a Democratic governor but mostly Republican congressmen. The state leans Democratic when it comes to presidential elections, however, voting for the Democratic candidate in six out of the last seven races. In this poll, they went Democratic again.

40/51

Rhode Island

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Rhode Islanders voted Democratic in the last seven presidential elections, have a Democratic governor, and, according to this poll, see Democratic candidate Sanders as the best one for their finances.

41/51

South Carolina

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Sanders should feel like he stole one from the Republicans here. South Carolina has a Republican governor, two Republican senators and six out of seven Republican congressmen. The state also has voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections.

42/51

South Dakota

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Like South Carolina, South Dakota has a Republican governor, Republican representatives in Washington D.C., and has voted Republican in the last seven presidential races. Trump won the state by a wide margin in this poll.

43/51

Tennessee

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

This predominantly red state — Republican governor and mostly Republican representatives in Congress — went for Trump in a big way. He easily beat Sanders and Clinton, number two and three, respectively.

44/51

Texas

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz couldn’t win over the voters of his own state regarding their financial confidence in this poll, with Sanders and Trump in a tie for first and Clinton running third. Cruz came in fourth.

45/51

Utah

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Another steal for Sanders. Utah is a state with a Republican governor and all Republican representatives in Congress. It also has voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections. Trump came in second, with Rubio and Cruz splitting third place.

46/51

Vermont

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Independent senator Sanders managed to win his own state in GOBankingRates’ poll. His state is very blue, too, with a Democratic governor and all Democratic representation in Congress.

47/51

Virginia

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Virginia has a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators but mostly Republican congressmen, so this wasn’t a lock for Sanders. Clinton finished a respectable second, with Trump right behind her in this poll.

48/51

Washington

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Washington might have been a lock for Sanders. The state took honors as the most Democratic state in late 2014 by the political website The Hill. Maybe that’s why Clinton came in second, with Trump picking up third in this poll.

49/51

West Virginia

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

With Sanders and Cruz tying for second place, Trump took the top spot in West Virgnia. It was close in this poll, however, perhaps because West Virginia voters chose the Democratic candidate in the last two presidential races and have a Democratic governor.

50/51

Wisconsin

Favorite Candidate: Bernie Sanders

Although Wisconsin has a Republican governor and mostly Republican representatives in Congress, it’s also true that the state voted Democratic in the last seven straight presidential elections. In GOBankingRates’ poll, it went Sanders, Trump, Clinton.

51/51

Wyoming

Favorite Candidate: Donald Trump

Here’s a state that probably was never in doubt for the Republicans, with Trump taking the top spot, Cruz coming in second, and Rubio tying with Sanders for third. Wyoming has voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections.

Methodology: Through a Google Consumer Survey, GOBankingRates surveyed 7,728 respondents online from Dec. 10-16, 2015. The survey posed the question, “Which presidential candidate would be best for you financially if elected?” and offered the following six candidates as options, displayed randomly: (1) Ben Carson, (2) Hillary Clinton, (3) Ted Cruz, (4) Marco Rubio, (5) Bernie Sanders and (6) Donald Trump, along with the option to select “None of the above.” The survey has a margin of error of 3 percent, and answers are representative of the U.S. online population.

If this article is to be believed, we are in big trouble. The fact that Bernie Sanders is shown anywhere is troubling. I would ask that anyone who picked him, do some research on life in countries like Greece and Venezuela, both countries are virtually bankrupt. I know that everyone will point to the Scandinavian countries, but the GDP of those countries would be in the lower half of US states. Not to mention the rate of alcoholism and depression. Also, the alleged “happiness” index in those countries is not to be trusted.
The really bad part of this article is that almost all of the candidates are bad options.

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